Product Description
I created these "Outside the Box" pieces to have some fun with my students, to encourage them to think and not just do things by rote. They are at an early intermediate level, though parts of a few of them could even be done by beginners. The challenge comes in doing things that are either very unusual, or trying out some skills that arent usually called for at an intermediate level.
There are 9 pieces in the collection. "Whats the Point?" uses just one finger on each hand. "Feeling Punchy" is played with the fists. "Chitter-Chatter" is in 2 keys at the same time. "Rest Stop" has more rest beats than note beats. "Burning the Candle at Both Ends" uses the very top and very bottom of the piano keyboard. "Quiet Thoughts" is LH only, and "The Chase" is RH only. "What Time Is it, Anyway?" keeps switching between 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4. And "If I Could Turn Back Time" has several measures that are played backwards.
None of the pieces are technically difficult, but they require thinking beyond normal intermediate level pieces, and I've found that students love playing pieces that are very different from what's in their lesson book.
You can see and hear the entire collection on my Youtube video: https://youtu.be/MdtYBQGpdmc
"Outside the Box" Book 2 is now available with 8 more challenges for intermediate students: https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/21812319
(Note: "Quiet Thoughts" and "The Chase" are both available separately on SMP, both for LH only, though they are both adaptable to RH only.)
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.